The government rewards people for buying cars with batteries. Norman Mineta wants the feds to set "technology neutral" regulations. He says EVs are considered "the flavor of the day. It's sort of the fad." He continues "People ought to be able to make up their own mind - and they would gravitate towards clean diesel."
Batteries in cars are expensive, create tons of carbon emissions when in production (more than enough to off-set any fuel savings), and will wear down over time and need to be replaced, thus causing more money spent and more carbons emitted. Clean diesels are no more difficult to manufacture than any other car, burn fuel more cleanly than gasoline engines, and still offer greatly increased fuel economy. They won't free us from oil like hydrogen will, but it's a good intermediary step.
[via The Detroit News]
